tenor

theoryTEN-orfrom Latin

The highest standard male voice type.

In Depth

The tenor is the highest standard male voice type, typically ranging from C3 to C5. The word comes from the Latin tenere (to hold), reflecting the voice's medieval role of holding the main melody while other voices moved around it. Tenors are prized for their bright, ringing upper register. In opera, the tenor is usually the romantic hero — Rodolfo in La Bohème, Alfredo in La Traviata, Otello in Verdi's opera. The three tenors — Pavarotti, Domingo, and Carreras — brought operatic singing to a massive global audience. Sub-categories include lyric tenor (light, agile), spinto tenor (more powerful), and dramatic tenor (heavy, heroic), each suited to different repertoire.
Did you know?

Enrico Caruso was the first musician to sell a million records. His 1902 recording of Vesti la giubba from Pagliacci made the tenor voice synonymous with operatic passion worldwide.

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